Tennis Pro Melanie Oudin Partners with Virgin Mobile USA
March 10, 2010
(SPORTS TECHNOLOGY)
Virgin Mobile (News - Alert) USA has entered in to a partnership relation with world ranked teen tennis sensation, Melanie Oudin, as she prepares to capture a WTA Championship at the 2010 BNP Paribas Open held in Indian Wells, Calif.
If Oudin wins this year’s U.S. Open in September, Virgin Mobile USA has committed to donate one million dollars to homeless youth organizations as part of The RE Generation program, which is company’s initiative to raise awareness for the issue of homeless youth in the United States.
“The RE Generation initiative was founded by Virgin Mobile to empower young people to help less fortunate peers resurrect their lives. We’ve made significant strides in raising awareness and direct involvement with the troubling issue of youth homelessness, and having an ambassador like Melanie Oudin committed to this cause is very powerful,” Bob Stohrer, vice president of marketing for Sprint’s (News - Alert) Virgin Mobile brand, said. “Melanie’s ‘Believe’ mantra transcends tennis and naturally extends to the work we’ll do together.”
Last year, at the age of 17, Oudin stepped onto the professional tennis stage and made her mark quickly with her strong performances at Wimbledon and the 2009 U.S. Open.
She, at the U.S. Open, defeated Maria Sharapova, Elena Dementieva and Nadia Petrova and became the youngest American Grand Slam quarterfinalist since Serena Williams won the 1999 Open. Melanie has adopted “Believe” as her mantra and has stamped the word on the tennis shoes that she wears during every match.
“I am thrilled to partner with Virgin Mobile USA. They have made great strides in their efforts to help disadvantaged youth, and the company brings excitement and creativity to everything it does,” Oudin, said. “I am looking forward to a great partnership.”
The fans will also be provided with the chance by the Virgin Mobile USA, to watch Melanie compete at this year’s U.S. Open through their FREE I.P. program. This program will offer free tickets to concerts and events in exchange for volunteering time at not-for-profit homeless youth organizations.
Introduced last year, the FREE I.P. program has already produced more than 30,000 hours of volunteer work and more than 5,000 tickets to the Virgin Mobile Festival and Virgin Mobile Presents the Monster Ball Tour Starring Lady Gaga.
In related news, Virgin Mobile USA has launched new Broadband2Go plans to offer customers access to more data for the same price offers. Broadband2Go offers customers 3G nationwide wireless Internet service without an annual contract, monthly subscription or activation fee.
Deepika Mala is a contributing editor for TMCnet. To read more of her articles, please visit her columnist page.
Edited by Erin Harrison
